Sen. Tester Introduces S.3619 to Improve Geothermal Technology
On July 20 Senator Tester (D-MT) introduced S.3619 – “A bill to amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to improve geothermal energy technology and demonstrate the use of geothermal energy in large scale thermal applications, and for other purposes.” The legislation would direct grants from the DOE to help state and local governments, universities, nonprofits and manufacturers in their development of geothermal energy technology through research and development of new equipment and methods.
“It’s time we spark innovation to develop these kinds of technologies that will create jobs in Montana and help secure American’s energy future,” Tester said in a statement. “Almost no other state can match Montana’s potential when it comes to renewable energy development. I’m going to keep fighting to make sure we reach that potential and rebuild Montana’s economy with energy jobs.”
The bill states that the Geothermal Technologies Program of DOE focuses on direct use of geothermal energy in the low-temperature geothermal energy subprogram and that the Building Technologies Program focuses on energy demand and energy efficiency, including geothermal heat pumps. It states that geothermal heat pumps and direct use of geothermal energy, especially in large-scale applications, can make a significant contribution to the use of renewable energy but are underrepresented.
The bill seeks to improve the components, processes, and systems used for geothermal heat pumps and the direct use of geothermal energy and to increase the energy efficiency, lower the cost, increase the use, and improve and demonstrate the applicability of geothermal heat pumps and the direct use of geothermal energy.
See http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s3619/show and http://www.votesmart.org/speech_detail.php?sc_id=580415.
Senate Redirects $1.5b of Loan Guarantee Funding To Education and Health Care
As an emergency measure, a $26 billion state aid bill passed by the Senate in a 61 to 39 vote. The bill also impacts $1.5 billion of funds set aside for renewable energy loan guarantees which were redirected to help state education and health programs facing imminent job cuts. The renewable funds, as well as others redirected from programs such as the Park Service and the Department of Defense, were used to offset the costs of the emergency bill. Reducing its deficit impact was critical to obtaining the vote needed in the Senate for passage.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that the Department of Energy was slow in getting the funds out to the loan guarantee programs where they will eventually meet their mark. "They have been, in my opinion, very, very slow in putting that money out," Reid said. "DOE has huge amounts of money they have not spent. ... There is no way with the way things have been working they are going to miss that billion and a half," he said.
Reid told press he cleared the offset with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and had spoken with DOE before the vote. He added that the loan guarantee program funding would be replaced: "That money is just temporarily gone... We are going to take care of that," he said.
"This loan guarantee program is critical for many new geothermal and other renewable projects," said Karl Gawell, GEA's Executive Director. "We agree with Senator Reid that DOE has been moving forward with loan guarantees at a snail's pace, but hope the funds for the program are quickly restored. Helping teachers and health care shouldn't have to undercut producing clean energy and creating new jobs. We need all of the above for the economy and country to move forward."
See http://www.eenews.net/pm/.
Energy/Oil Spill Bill Sees Further Delay
Senate Democrats have again postponed a vote on an energy bill, which has become mostly an oil spill bill. The plans now are to return to the issue in September after the August congressional recess.
When they return, Democrats are likely to make some changes to the bill, though how many is unclear, as they attempt to formulate legislation that will win the necessary 60 votes needed for passage. Meanwhile many different energy interest groups continue working to affect its direction. Some of the key struggles over the recess
include efforts by energy majors pushing for the Senate to reconsider removing caps on liability for companies that cause oil spills, environmental groups urging support for a cap on carbon-dioxide emissions, and renewable groups working for a renewable electricity standard and tax credit extensions.
In the view of some Washington observers, the odds of any significant energy bill passing this year seem long, but the Senate Leadership has been leaving open the door to finding a way to 60 votes.
See http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/08/05/05greenwire-fallout-begins-after-senates-failure-to-act-on-54000.html and http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703748904575411170816612944.html.
GEA Las Vegas Utilities Workshop Attracts Geothermal Newcomers
Over 130 hundred representatives from various organizations braved the oppressive Nevada heat to attend the Geothermal Energy Associations (GEA) Geothermal Energy and Utilities, Co-ops and Public Power Workshop on July 22, 2010. The day-long workshop saw attendees and presenters coming from a variety of backgrounds within the geothermal energy industry in order to expound on and learn about the opportunities and obstacles facing the geothermal industry.
The workshop featured 10 different panels addressing a multitude of timely topics from investor and municipally owned utilities to other pertinent subjects such as transmission issues and analytical approaches to geothermal risk assessment. Karl Gawell, GEA Executive Director highlighted the dramatic growth of the industry; panelists on the Federal and State Support for Utilities and Renewables panel highlighted incentives for the development of geothermal energy. Dan Schochet of Ram Power spoke to the transmission developments that are needed to meet the growing need for clean geothermal energy in both Nevada and the greater West. Perhaps just as striking as the multitude of panel topics was the variety of organizations represented at the workshop. Newly developing sectors of the geothermal industry such as hydrocarbon and geothermal co-production companies were represented. State and government officials were represented and provided presentations on how their organizations support geothermal energy. Representatives from developers, law firms, and equipment suppliers also participated in the workshop.
The utility panels highlighted the growing importance of geothermal energy in the region. Dan Chase, Contract Negotiator, Renewable & Alternative Power, Southern California Edison noted that 17% of customers’ needs are met with renewable energy, of which 57% is provided by geothermal energy.
While the variety of organizations present at the workshop was significant its most impressive achievement was the number of newcomers in attendance. “It was gratifying to look at the attendance list for this workshop and see companies and organizations that we haven’t seen at our events before. That speaks not only to the importance of the workshops focused topic but also the increased recognition of geothermal energy as a viable source of clean renewable energy in Nevada and the region,” said GEA Research Associate Dan Jennejohn.
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